Propane oxidative dehydrogenation over unpromoted and Nb promoted NiO loaded calcium-hydroxyapatite catalysts

Nickel loaded calcium-hydroxyapatite (xNi/CaHAp) and niobium promoted xNi/CaHAp catalysts were synthesized and characterised by X-ray, FTIR, U.V-visible-NIR spectroscopies and temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR). X-ray diffraction patterns of xNi/CaHAp showed that for nickel loadings above 5 wt.% Ni, diffraction lines belonging to bulk NiO start to appear. The average size of those nickel oxide particles is equal to 16, 23, and 35 nm for x = 10, 15 and 20 Wt.%, respectively. U.V-visible and TPR showed that the loaded nickel is hosted by octahedral and pseudo-octahedral sites.Calcium-hydroxyapatite loaded with different amounts of nickel and niobium promoted xNi/CaHAp catalysts were tested in oxidative dehydrogenation propane (ODH). The best performance was achieved with a nickel loading of x = 10%. The corresponding stationary conversion of propane is equal to 22% with a propylene yield of 13%.Addition of niobium to xNi/CaHAp decreases the global conversion but enhances the propylene selective and the stability of the catalyst with time on stream. The best results were obtained with 0.15 wt.% Nb. The propylene yield at stead state reaches 14% at 425°C

Validation of the Arabic version of the Cohen perceived stress scale (PSS-10) among pregnant and postpartum women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Arabic translation of the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) in pregnant and postpartum women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 268 women participated. These included 113 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, 97 in the postpartum period and 58 healthy female university students. GHQ-12 and EPDS were also administered to the participants. Internal consistency reliability, assessed using Cronbach's α, was 0.74.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PSS-10 significantly correlated with both EPDS and GHQ12 (ρ = 0.58 and ρ = 0.48 respectively), and significantly increased with higher scores on stressful life events. PSS-10 scores were higher among university students who also recorded higher stressful life events scores.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Arabic translated version of the PSS-10 showed reasonably adequate psychometric properties.</p

COVARIATE-ADJUSTED NONPARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES USING MARKOV CHAIN MONTE CARLO

Permutation tests are useful for drawing inferences from imaging data because of their flexibility and ability to capture features of the brain that are difficult to capture parametrically. However, most implementations of permutation tests ignore important confounding covariates. To employ covariate control in a nonparametric setting we have developed a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm for conditional permutation testing using propensity scores. We present the first use of this methodology for imaging data. Our MCMC algorithm is an extension of algorithms developed to approximate exact conditional probabilities in contingency tables, logit, and log-linear models. An application of our non-parametric method to remove potential bias due to the observed covariates is presented

Tobacco Use and Its Health Effects among Professional Athletes in Qatar

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of tobacco use on selected markers of health and lung function in professional athletes. A total of 108 male professional athletes participated in the study from ten ball game teams in the same sport league in Qatar (age = 26.4 ± 5.1 yrs, height = 190.6 ± 11.9 cm, and weight = 91.5 ± 16.4 kg). The athletes have been playing professionally for about 6.3 years on average. In addition to demographic and tobacco use status, the following clinical variables were measured: resting blood pressure, heart rate, FVC, FEV1 sec, and PEF. The prevalence of tobacco use among the athletes was 27.7%. The FVC, FVC%, and FEV1% were significantly lower among the smokers compared to the nonsmokers ( = 0.003, 0.044, and 0.001, resp.). There were no significant differences between cigarettes smokers and nonsmokers in BP, HR, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and PEF%. Similarly, those who smoked shisha had lower FEV1% values as compared to those who did not smoke shisha ( = 0.001). The decrease of FEV1 and FVC among smokers compared to nonsmokers is similar to what has been reported in the literature about other populations.Scopu

Assessing the effectiveness of a pharmacist-delivered smoking cessation program in the State of Qatar: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: It had been reported that up to 37% of the adult male population smokes cigarettes in Qatar. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey also stated that 13.4% of male school students aged 13 to 15 years in Qatar smoke cigarettes. Smoking cessation is key to reducing smoking-related diseases and deaths. Healthcare providers are in an ideal position to encourage smoking cessation. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers and are uniquely situated to initiate behavior change among patients. Many studies have shown that pharmacists can be successful in helping patients quit smoking. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of pharmacist-delivered smoking cessation programs are lacking in Qatar. This proposal aims to test the effect of a structured smoking cessation program delivered by trained ambulatory pharmacists in Qatar. Methods/Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial is conducted at eight ambulatory pharmacies in Qatar. Participants are randomly assigned to receive an at least four-session face-to-face structured patient-specific smoking cessation program conducted by the pharmacist or 5 to 10 min of unstructured brief smoking cessation advice (emulating current practice) given by the pharmacist. Both groups are offered nicotine replacement therapy if feasible. The primary outcome of smoking cessation will be confirmed by an exhaled carbon monoxide test at 12 months. Secondary outcomes constitute quality-of-life adjustment as well as cost analysis of program resources consumed, including per case and patient outcome. Discussion: If proven to be effective, this smoking cessation program will be considered as a model that Qatar and the region can apply to decrease the smoking burden. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT02123329.Qatar National Research Fund under its National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)

Validation of the Arab Youth Mental Health scale as a screening tool for depression/anxiety in Lebanese children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early detection of common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, among children and adolescents requires the use of validated, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate screening instruments. The Arab region has a high proportion of youth, yet Arabic-language screening instruments for mental disorders among this age group are virtually absent.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out construct and clinical validation on the recently-developed Arab Youth Mental Health (AYMH) scale as a screening tool for depression/anxiety. The scale was administered with 10-14 year old children attending a social service center in Beirut, Lebanon (N = 153). The clinical assessment was conducted by a child and adolescent clinical psychiatrist employing the DSM IV criteria. We tested the scale's sensitivity, specificity, and internal consistency.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Scale scores were generally significantly associated with how participants responded to standard questions on health, mental health, and happiness, indicating good construct validity. The results revealed that the scale exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) and specificity (79%). However, it exhibited moderate sensitivity for girls (71%) and poor sensitivity for boys (50%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The AYMH scale is useful as a screening tool for general mental health states and a valid screening instrument for common mental disorders among girls. It is not a valid instrument for detecting depression and anxiety among boys in an Arab culture.</p

Internalized Stigma in Persons With Mental Illness in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study

Stigma impacts persons with mental illness (PWMI), their families and network of friends, the public and health care professionals. Stigma is a major barrier for PWMI to seeking treatment, which contributes to the burden of disease, disability, and mortality. Research on stigma is relatively scant in the Middle East region and particularly in Qatar. To address stigma effectively in each culture, it is essential to study its nature in the context where the PWMI experience stigma. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of internalized stigma in PWMI in Qatar. A cross-sectional study of PWMI receiving outpatient mental health services in Qatar was done. We interviewed 417 PWMI using a modified 18-item version of the short form of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale. Descriptive and regression models were used to analyze the data. The Cronbach alpha for the modified 18-items ISMI was 0.87. Participants' average score on this scale was 2.07 ± 0.38 with 41 (9.8%) of them scoring more than 2.5 which is considered “high” stigma score. In multivariate logistic regression, high stigma (modified ISMI score &gt;2.5) was significantly higher among PWMI with no formal education and among those who reported lower levels of social support. The reported levels of internalized stigma in this vulnerable population of Qatar fall at the lower spectrum reported worldwide. An anti-stigma education program designed for the context of Qatar emphasizing on education and support for PWMI may be conducive to creating an all-inclusive society

Corneal Confocal Microscopy Identifies Parkinson's Disease with More Rapid Motor Progression

From Wiley via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-12-15, rev-recd 2021-03-11, accepted 2021-03-12, pub-electronic 2021-04-07, pub-print 2021-08Article version: VoRPublication status: PublishedFunder: Michael J Fox Foundation Trust (Grant ID 12059); Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269ABSTRACT: Background: Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a noninvasive, reproducible ophthalmic technique to quantify corneal small nerve fiber degeneration. CCM demonstrates small nerve fiber damage in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its role as a longitudinal biomarker of PD progression has not been explored. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess corneal nerve morphology using CCM in relation to disease progression in PD. Methods: Sixty‐four participants with PD were assessed at baseline and at 12‐month follow‐up. Participants underwent CCM with automated corneal nerve quantification and assessment of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results: Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density, corneal nerve fiber length, corneal total branch density, and corneal nerve fiber area were significantly lower in participants with PD compared with healthy control subjects. Worsening of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III score over 12 months was significantly greater in participants with a CNFD in the lowest compared with the highest quartile at baseline (mean difference: 6.0; 95% CI: 1.0–10.9; P = 0.019). There were no significant changes in CNFD, corneal nerve branch density, corneal nerve fiber length, corneal total branch density, corneal nerve fiber area, or corneal nerve fiber width between baseline and 12‐month follow‐up. Conclusions: CCM identifies neurodegeneration in patients with PD, especially those who show the greatest progression in neurological disability. CCM may be a useful tool to help enrich clinical trials with those likely to exhibit more rapid progression and reduce required sample size and cost of studies. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Societ

Effectiveness of a structured pharmacist-delivered intervention for patients post-acute coronary syndromes on all-cause hospitalizations and cardiac-related hospital readmissions: a prospective quasi-experimental study

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Qatar and globally. Aim: The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured clinical pharmacist-delivered intervention on all-cause hospitalizations and cardiac-related readmissions in patients with ACS. Method: A prospective quasi-experimental study was conducted at Heart Hospital in Qatar. Discharged ACS patients were allocated to one of three study arms: (1) an intervention group (received a structured clinical pharmacist-delivered medication reconciliation and counselling at discharge, and two follow-up sessions at 4 weeks and 8 weeks post-discharge), (2) a usual care group (received the general usual care at discharge by clinical pharmacists) or, (3) a control group (discharged during weekends or after clinical pharmacists' working hours). Follow-up sessions for the intervention group were designed to re-educate and counsel patients about their medications, remind them about the importance of medication adherence, and answer any questions they may have. At the hospital, patients were allocated into one of the three groups based on intrinsic and natural allocation procedures. Recruitment of patients took place between March 2016 and December 2017. Data were analyzed based on intention-to-treat principles. Results: Three hundred seventy-three patients were enrolled in the study (intervention = 111, usual care = 120, control = 142). Unadjusted results showed that the odds of 6-month all-cause hospitalizations were significantly higher among the usual care (OR 2.034; 95% CI: 1.103–3.748, p = 0.023) and the control arms (OR 2.704; 95% CI: 1.456–5.022, p = 0.002) when compared to the intervention arm. Similarly, patients in the usual care arm (OR 2.304; 95% CI: 1.122–4.730, p = 0.023) and the control arm (OR 3.678; 95% CI: 1.802–7.506, p ≤ 0.001) had greater likelihood of cardiac-related readmissions at 6 months. After adjustment, these reductions were only significant for cardiac-related readmissions between control and intervention groups (OR 2.428; 95% CI: 1.116–5.282, p = 0.025). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the impact of a structured intervention by clinical pharmacists on cardiac-related readmissions at 6 months post-discharge in patients post-ACS. The impact of the intervention on all-cause hospitalization was not significant after adjustment for potential confounders. Large cost‐effective studies are required to determine the sustained impact of structured clinical pharmacist-provided interventions in ACS setting. Trial registration: Clinical Trials: NCT02648243 Registration date: January 7, 2016.This work was supported by an internal grant (Grant Number QUUG-CPH-CPH-14\15-2) from Qatar University Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of Qatar University